Released April 1992 Label Mercury Records Release date April 1992 | Length 58:47 Artist Michelle Shocked Genre Americana | |
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Arkansas Traveler
(1991) Kind Hearted Woman
(1994) Producers Bernie Leadon, Hugh Padgham, Michelle Shocked, Don Was Nominations Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album Similar Michelle Shocked albums, Americana albums | ||
Arkansas traveler
Arkansas Traveler is an alternative folk album released by American singer-songwriter Michelle Shocked in 1992. Her fourth album for Mercury Records, the songs focused around the roots of her music. The album included collaborations with several other artists, including Taj Mahal, Alison Krauss, Tony Levin and Norman Blake. Jack Irons plays drums at the beginning of track 6. Uncle Tupelo plays on track 6.
Contents
The arkansas traveler three old cronies samuels reser porter
Track listing
All tracks composed by Michelle Shocked; except where indicated
- "33 RPM Soul" — 4:10
- "Come a Long Way" — 4:43
- "Secret to a Long Life" — 3:50
- "Contest Coming (Cripple Creek)" — 3:35
- "Over the Waterfall" — 4:39
- "Shaking Hands (Soldier's Joy)" — 3:25
- "Jump Jim Crow" — 3:32
- "Hold Me Back" — 5:09
- "Strawberry Jam" — 4:33
- "Prodigal Daughter (Cotton Eyed Joe)" — 6:43
- "Blackberry Blossom" — 3:31
- "Weaving Way" — 2:57
- "Arkansas Traveler" — 4:20
- "Woody's Rag" (Woody Guthrie) — 2:51
Reception
Reviewing the album for Rolling Stone, Mark Kemp gave it four stars out of five, calling it "ambitious". William Ruhlmann of AllMusic also gave the album four stars out of five. He also found it an ambitious album, calling Shocked "feisty" and "exuberant". He also noted the album's lack of commercial success. Her desire to have the cover portray her in blackface in tribute to the roots of the music featured on the album drew criticism and a change in the cover art.
Songs
133 rpm Soul4:10
2Come a Long Way4:44
3Secret to a Long Life3:51